Catalans Dragons hooker Paul Aiton insists he’s heard nothing about where his future may lie in 2019 after speculation linking him with a return to Australia, although he insists the Dragons are not panicking about their horrendous start to this season.
The Dragons slumped to a third successive defeat and remain bottom of the table following their 23-4 loss to Hull KR on Thursday night.
Yet Aiton stressed the squad is fully behind coach Steve McNamara and they are not worried just yet.
“We experienced something really difficult last year emotionally which has made us tighter as players,” he said.
“And the new players have come in and added to that. There is a good bunch of blokes who get on really well. But there is no panic. We are only three rounds in. You can’t panic now, because it is going to be a long season if you do.
“We are under Steve Mac, who is a very experienced coach. We are in good hands, so we have to trust him.”
Aiton’s own future is uncertain beyond this year, with the Papua New Guinea international out of contract and rumoured to be open to a move back to the NRL in 2019.
But he says he’s not aware of any interest or talks about ending his time in Super League.
He said: “I am not sure where that news is coming from. Given a chance to help out in any way possible I probably would, because I am free next year. I have had friends asking me but I’ve not heard anything.”
Catalans face Aiton’s former club Wakefield on Saturday, but he’s not sure whether he’ll be able to face his former employers after suffering a dead leg on Thursday.
He said: “I’m not sure (about being fit); it’s pretty bad. I had one a couple of years ago and it kept me out for a couple of weeks. I am going to do the best I can.
“They’re a great team, Wakefield. I always keep an eye on them since I left. It is going to be an extremely tough game as they came over and did a good job on us. I’ve still got a lot of good friends there.”
Meanwhile the Dragons signed a new two-year contract last week with fullback Tony Gigot, following the lifting of his recent two-year suspension by the French Anti-Doping Agency for not cooperating with a drugs tester.
“I’m really happy to be able to do again what I love and to be back in my club,” said Gigot.
“I would like to thank Bernard Guasch and everybody at the club, even the fans, for their support. I’m now looking forward to being back at the Gilbert Brutus Stadium to start training with my team-mates.”
